New rumor claims Tom Brady could return to Patriots

There has been a lot of discussion regarding Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s relationship over the years, especially since the quarterback left the Patriots after the 2020 season. That conversation has heightened this past week as a new rumor has begun circulating suggesting the former New England quarterback could return to Foxboro as a free agent next year.

Brady’s contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will end after the 2022 season, providing him with another opportunity to hit free agency and explore the market. Given that he has always stated he would play until he was 45, it’s more likely than not that he will retire at the season’s end. But because the Bucs’ season has been far from productive, Jeff Howe of The Athletic says in his latest article that the Patriots could come into play for Brady’s last hurrah.

In the piece, Howe, who previously covered the Patriots from 2009-2021, discusses potential landing spots for several key free-agent quarterbacks next year, including Brady. Of the teams deemed the most fitting for the quarterback to land, Howe couldn’t rule out the Patriots as a potential option.

"“And finally — maybe hold onto your phone with two hands for this one — don’t ever write off the Patriots.Brady and Bill Belichick still have an abundance of respect for one another. They’ve made points to say it publicly on multiple occasions since the QB departed for Tampa. They also spent 23 minutes together in the visiting locker room at Gillette Stadium following Brady’s return in 2021 — an appointment they set up prior to the game.”"

There are many factors to consider when assessing the likelihood of this actually occurring.

The Patriots are said to have over $50 million in cap space this upcoming offseason, close to the amount Belichick had available and spent during the 2021 free agency spending spree. As the offense continues to work through their rebuild, the idea of adding quality talent around him could be an enticing component for Brady to make his return.

Howe also mentions the uneasy situation with the offensive coordinator position, which has been highly discussed since Matt Patricia seemingly took over play-calling duties. With rumors swirling regarding whether or not Belichick will retain Patricia as the unofficial OC or if he will look to replace him is also a point for Brady to ponder.

Would Brady be content to work with Patricia? What if Bill O’Brien returned to his former position with the Patriots?

And then there’s what to do with Mac Jones. When bringing in a veteran quarterback, especially one of Brady’s caliber, the assumption is the team is not set at the position. There has been a lot of controversy this season surrounding Jones and how the team views him, with a lot of emphasis on whether or not he is “the guy” for the foreseeable future. If Brady voiced his desire to return to New England, would Belichick move on from Jones in just his third season?

According to Howe, he wouldn’t have to.

"“Realistically, the Patriots wouldn’t even need to trade Mac Jones, whose rookie contract runs through 2024 plus the fifth-year option in 2025. While they certainly could — and as is the case with many starting quarterbacks, they’d start the trade conversations with the hopes of recouping a first-round pick — there’d be loads of value in Jones learning from Brady.”"

Of course, learning from the GOAT is something any young quarterback would dream of. But because Brady would return for likely just the season, would placing Jones on the backburner cause irreparable damage between him and Belichick?

Some would argue their relationship has taken a hit this season from the drama of the quarterback carousel when Jones returned from injury. Furthering that by bringing Brady back simply in hopes of winning another Super Bowl would not be ideal if he intends to build for the future. But if both Brady and Belichick choose to have a go at it one more time, it seems fair to assume they would both retire at the end of the year, making the rebuilding of the Patriots not the coach’s concern anymore.

Speculating what the future holds is certainly fun, but when determining the chances of Brady returning to the Patriots, Howe says not to rule it out.

"“Maybe it’s a long shot. There might be better situations for Brady. But just when you think you’ve got Belichick figured out, he does something no one sees coming.”"